Washing machine



' Sept. 17, 1963 H. STREICH I WASHING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1961 REV ERS ING :DRWE

United States Patent 3,103,802 WASHING MACHINE Hildegartl Stretch, Walsrode, Hannover, Germany, assignor to William Edlich, Dover, NJ. Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 102,437 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 22, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 68-148) The present invention relates to washing machines. More particularly it relates to a compartmented washing machine apparatus which is adapted simultaneously to wash, rinse, bleach, and otherwise carry out the various sequential steps of conventional washing processes during the passage of wash loads therethrough.

In accordance with the present invention a washing machine apparatus comprises an outer casing, a cylindrical drum mounted within said outer casing, a plurality of flat partitions transversely dividing said drum into a plurality of clothes-retaining chambers, means for causing rotary motion of said drum within said outer casing, means for transferring clothes sequentially from one of said chambers to a next adjacent chamber in a single direction along the length of said drum, and means for transferring a washing liquid from one of said chambers to a next adjacent chamber.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings which are to be considered as exemplary of the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a washing machine apparatus in accordance with the present invention in which the inner drum is rotated 90 from its normal dead center position; and

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 taken in elevation along the line 22 thereof.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a generally cylindrical outer housing or casing 5, and a rotatable inner drum supported concentrically within the outer casing by a central shaft 12 which is hollow at one end. The shaft 12 is jcurnalled in bearings 14, and is provided with a drive pulley 16. An annular space separates the drum 10 from the stationary outer casing 5.

The interior of the drum is divided into chambers or pockets 20 by a plurality of equally spaced arcuate segmental flat partitions 22 which are transversely mounted in a liquid-tight manner between the central shaft 12 and the inner surface of the drum 19.

These flat partitions 2 2 are mounted in a comrnon profile and, as better illustrated in FIG. 2., each segment is semicircular, extending approximately 180 of are from a radial edge thereof on one side of the central shaft to the other, opposed radial edge of the same flat partition.

The opposed radial edges of each adjacent flat partition are interconnected by helical flights 24 which also extend in liquid-tight relationship between the central shaft 12 and the inner surface of the drum 10.

A rib 30 projects inwardly into the drum 10 along the entire length of its inner surface at the midpoint of the arcuate outer periphery of the flat partitions 22.

Fluid outlet perforations or passages 32 and inlet perforations or passages 34 are provided in the wall of the drum Ill adjacent to the fiat partitions 22. Expansible sealing rings 36 are carried on the outer periphery of the inner drum 1!), projecting radially about the transverse mid-section of each pocket to bear on stationary mating and sealing members 38 projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the outer casing 5. A loose sealing relationship is adequate, as the fluid pressures involved here are low and a small amount of leakage is permissible.

A loading chute 40 is positioned above the shaft 12 at one end of the drum 10 so as to feed by gravity a wash load into the first pocket 20 over the radial edges of the first flat partition 22 at that end of the drum Ill. Similarly, an unloading chute 42 is disposed below theshaft 12 at the opposite end of the drum 10 to receive finished wash loads ejected from the pocket 20 at that end of the drum in a manner to be described in further detail below.

Process fluids flow through the pockets 20 sequentially in a counter-current direction to that of the wash loads, rinse water being supplied to the last pocket through the hollow portion of the shaft 12, which is provided with a side passageway 44 leading into that pocket.

Unidirectional flow of fluid counter-current to the direction of travel of the wash loads through the perforated drum Ill is maintained by the sealing rings 36 and mating members 38 which divert the liquid draining from a given pocket (through the drainage passages 32 in the drum 10) into the outer casing 5, into the next adjacent pocket through the fluid inlet passages 34 in the drum wall until ultimately the liquid drains from the pocket which receives the incoming wash loads. Liquid draining from that pocket flows over a weir 46 connected to the outer casing 5, and thence discharges to a drain. Naturally, as the liquid progresses through the pockets 20 towards the weir 4-6, the liquid level in each pocket becomes progressively lower as indicated in FIG. 1 by the liquid levels shown therein, by the reference numeral 47.

Auxiliary passageways 50 through the outer casing 5 into the annular space between the drum 10 and the casing 5 are provided to permit injection thereinto of heating steam, soap, bleach, and the like, and also, if desired, removal of part of the liquid therein or a by-passing of such liquid past several pockets by means of a conduit 52 and valve 54. Naturally such injections will afiect the liquid level in the pocket involved; however this factor may be compensated by adjustment of the number and size of the perforations or passageways 32 and 34 in each pocket 20.

In normal washing operations, the pulley 16 is driven by a reversing drive 55 such that the drum 10 oscillates, the rib 30 travelling approximately on each side of bottom dead center, i.e., to the extreme position of the drum 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. (A suitable peripheral drum speed during this oscillatory action is approximately 20 feet per second.) It will be appreciated that as the drum oscillates, the action of centrifugal force and the rib 34 carries the wash load in each pocket a substantial distance before the load tumbles off the rib into the liquid in the bottom of the pocket. Thus a very effective tumbling and agitating action is achieved.

After a predetermined period of oscillation has expired (suitably on the order of about seven minutes), the pulley 16 is driven such that the drum 10 makes one complete revolution, the rib 30 travelling from bottom dead center to bottom dead center. (A suitable peripherial speed for the drum 10 for this operation has been found to be about 10 feet per minute.) The wash load, which remains in the lower portion of the cylindrical drum, is thereby advanced into the next pocket adjacent to that from which it came. Of course in the case of the last pocket, the wash load is discharged into the unloading chute 42. It will be appreciated that in this step, the bulk of the liquid in a given pocket is not advanced, but remains in that pocket by virtue of the fact that it is free to drain through the passageways 32 and 34 into the outer cylinder 5.

The instant combination of spiral or helical flights 24 and flat partitions 22 has been found to be highly advantageous with respect both to effective Washing action and as regards efficient transfer of wash loads through (the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the invention herein illustrated and described is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine apparatus comprising an outer casing, a cylindrical drum mounted within said outer casing, a plurality of flat partitions transversely dividing said drum into a plurality of clothes-retaining chambers, means for causing rotary motion of said drum within said outer casing, means for transferring clothes sequentially from one of said chambers to a next adjacent chamber in a single direction along the length of said drum, and means for transferring a washing liquid from one of said chambers to the next adjacent chamber.

2. A washing machine apparatus comprising a cylindrical outer casing, a smaller cylindrical drum mounted concentrically within said outer casing, a plurality of flat partitions transversely dividing said drum into a plurality of clothes-retaining chambers, means for causing oscillatory motion of said drum within said outer casing, means for transferring clothes in a spiral path sequentially from one of said chambers to a next adjacent chamber in a single direction axially through said drum, and means for transferring sequentially a washing liquid through said chambers in a direction counter-current to the direction of travel of said clothes.

3. A washing machine apparatus comprising a horizontal cylindrical outer casing, a smaller cylindrical drum mounted concentrically within said outer casing, said drum being supported on a central shaft and being perforated along its cylindrical wall, a plurality of fiat semicircular partitions mounted in profile and extending in liquid tight manner between said central shaft and the inner surface of said drum to form a plurality of clothesretaining chambers, a plurality of helical flights mounted in profile, each of said flights extending in liquid-tight manner between said central shaft and the inner surface of said drum and from one radial edge of one of said flat semicircular partitions to the corresponding other radial edge of a next adjacent flat semicircular partition, a plurality of liquid seal means extending between said drum and said cylinder disposed circumferentially about said drum, and means for causing rotary motion of said drum, whereby on oscillation of said drum for less than one half of a revolution, the contents of each chamber is agitated therein and, on a complete revolution of said drum, the clothes within each chamber are conveyed to a next adjacent chamber.

4. A washing machine apparatus as set forth in claim 3 having a longitudinal rib projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said drum.

5. A washing machine apparatus as set forth in claim '4 4 wherein said rib is disposed at the mid-point of the arcuate outer periphery of said flat semicircular partition.

6. A washing machine apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said central shaft has a hollow core and is provided with a passageway from said core to the exterior of said shaft, whereby liquid may be fed through said shaft into the interior of said drum.

7. A washing machine apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said liquid seal means are disposed on the outside of said drum at the mid-sections of said chambers.

8. A washing machine apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said outer casing is provided with a. liquid transfer opening.

9. A washing machine apparatus comprising a stationary outer casing, a horizontal drum mounted within said outer casing on a central shaft, a plurality of equally spaced fiat semicircular partitions mounted in a common profile and extending between said central shaft and the inner surface of said drum to form a plurality of clothesretaining chambers, a plurality of equally spaced helical flights mounted in a common profile, each of said flights extending in liquid-tight manner between said central shaft and the inner surface of said drum and from one radial edge of one of said flat semicircular partitions to the corresponding other radial edge of a next adjacent flat semicircular partition, a plurality of liquid passages extending through the wall of said drum adjacent said partitions, a plurality of mechanical liquid seals between said drum and said casing, said seals being disposed at the center of said chambers, a clothes-agitating rib projecting longitudinally inwardly from the inner surface of said drum, said rib being disposed at the midpoint of the arcuate outer periphery of said fiat semicircular partition, and means for oscillating and rotating said drum within said casing, whereby on oscillation of said drum for less than one half revolution, the contents of each chamber are agitated therein and, on a complete revolution of said drum, the clothes within each chamber are conveyed to a next adjacent chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,152 Annandale May 8, 1900 2,056,803 Failing Oct. 6, 1936 2,057,185 Evans Oct. 13, 1936 2,312,657 Locke Mar. 2, 1943 2,978,229 Jackson Apr. 4, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 514,001 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1939 

1. A WASHING MACHINE APPARATUS COMPRISING AN OUTER CASING, A CYLINDRICAL DRUM MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OUTER CASING, A PLURALITY OF FLAT PARTITIONS TRANSVERSELY DIVIDING SAID DRUM INTO A PLURALITY OF CLOTHES-RETAINING CHAMBERS, MEANS FOR CAUSING ROTARY MOTION OF SAID DRUM WITHIN SAID OUTER CASING, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CLOTHES SEQUENTIALLY FROM ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS TO A NEXT ADJACENT CHAMBER IN A SINGLE DIRECTION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID DRUM, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING A WASHING LIQUID FROM ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS TO THE NEXT ADJACENT CHAMBER. 